BOLINAO, Pangasinan โ As part of the ๐๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ต๐ป๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ด๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐โ๐ (๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ง ๐ฅ๐ญ) ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ to strengthen research collaboration and technology transfer in local salt production, the ๐ผ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ฉ ๐๐๐จ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ฃ๐ค๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ (๐ผ๐๐๐) ๐พ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ง facilitated a technical learning visit to the Pangasinan Salt Center in Sitio Gagaban, Zaragoza, Bolinao, Pangasinan, on October 30, 2025.
The activity was conducted to strengthen the salt production initiatives under the ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ง ๐ก๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฅ&๐ (๐ก๐๐๐๐ฅ) ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ, which supports the establishment of the ASIN Center as a pioneering research and development hub for the salt industry in Region I. It also formed part of the continuing engagement of ๐๐ฟ. ๐๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐บ๐ถ ๐ฅ. ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ, ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎโ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฅโ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐น๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐ป๐๐๐ถ๐๐๐๐ฒ (๐๐ฆ๐๐ฅ-๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐), who is visiting Region I to share her expertise on sustainable salt technologies.
Joining Dr. Andharia were Project 1 Leader Dr. Nathaniel R. Alibuyog, Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) project members, Pangasinan State University (PSU) Research Director Dr. Rhowel M. Dellosa, and Project 2 staff and members. The group was warmly welcomed by the centerโs consultant, Mr. June Camero.
Prior to the formal discussion, Mr. Camero provided an overview of the various salt products developed at the facility, which include bitter salt, refined salt, salt flakes, solar coarse salt, and Class โAโ salt, as well as gourmet variants infused with calamansi, wine, garlic, chili, black pepper, and rosemary. He elaborated on the distinct characteristics, production methods, and market applications of each product, which were further examined through the insights and observations shared by Dr. Andharia.
Mr. Camero also discussed the history, development, and technical processes of the Pangasinan Salt Centerโfrom pond preparation and seawater evaporation to harvesting and packaging. He further explained the use of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) as a sustainable alternative to traditional clay brick linings in salt beds, ensuring consistent quality despite material constraints.
๐ฃ๐ฆ๐จ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ฟ. ๐๐น๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ฎ๐ conveyed his appreciation to the DOST NICER Program and its partners for promoting meaningful international linkages and research cooperation. He underscored that the DOST NICER ASIN Center stands as a testament to the universityโs commitment to research excellence and community development in the salt industry.
Meanwhile, ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐จ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต, ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ฟ. ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐ expressed her gratitude to DOST Region I and Dr. Bhoomi Andharia for their continuing support and collaboration in advancing the DOST NICER ASIN Centerโs research and extension activities. She highlighted that such engagements further strengthen PSUโs role as a vital partner in developing innovative and sustainable salt production technologies in the region.
The visit provided valuable insights into the technical, biological, and operational aspects of salt production in Pangasinan and underscored the regionโs commitment to innovation and sustainability in revitalizing the local salt industry.
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